Deuteronomy 22: Lessons From the Sundry Laws Regarding Biblical Duties that God Expects From Every Believer

God’s Sundry Laws contain wisdom for how to love others1

Introduction: Jesus repeatedly confronted the Pharisees for hypocrisy and for their misplaced priorities. On one occasion, He accused them of ignoring the “weightier” matters of the Law: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” (Matt. 23:23; Lk. 11:41). There is wisdom in all the Law. Before Jesus’ death, it all had to be kept. But Jesus’ comments reveal that a hierarchy of importance exists within God’s Law. Laws that pertain to justice, mercy, and faithfulness are at the top of God’s Law. What then is at the bottom? Some rabbis claimed that it is a requirement to protect mother birds found in Deuteronomy Chapter 22. Deuteronomy Chapter 22 is often labeled in Bibles as the “Sundry Laws,” suggesting that it is a miscellaneous collection of unrelated laws that don’t fit anywhere else. Yet, it is unique amongst the chapters in the Torah because it also contains some of the most important laws regarding sexual purity. What can be learned from studying a seemingly unrelated collection of laws ranging from the purportedly least important and most important matters? From the individual examples of requirements that God provides, He reveals seven broad duties that a believer owes to others and to Him. First, you have a duty to preserve and return misplaced property to its rightful owner. More broadly stated, you have a duty to do unto others as you would have them do to you. Second, you have a duty not to dress like a person of the opposite gender. More broadly stated, you have a duty to preserve the identity that God has given you. Third, you have a duty not to kill a mother bird and its young at the same time. More broadly stated, you have a duty to preserve the resources and environment that God has given you to manage. Fourth, you have a duty to build protective walls on roofs. More broadly stated, you have a duty to protect those under your control from harm. Fifth, Jews had a duty not to mix seeds in their fields or fibers in their clothes. More broadly stated, you have a duty to separate yourself from the things of the world to stay pure. Sixth, the Jews were required to wear tassels to remind themselves to keep their thoughts on God. More broadly stated, you have an ongoing duty to keep your mind focused on the things of the Spirit and not the flesh. Finally, you have a duty to stay pure from any sexual immorality. That duty did not disappear with Christ’s death (Acts 15:29; 21:25).

1. Your Duty to Preserve and Return Another’s Property. Dt. 22:1-4.

Restore those whom you have hurt and help restore God’s sheep who are lost to sin2

2. Your Duty to Preserve the Identity God Gave You. Dt. 22:5.

3. Your Duty to Preserve and Protect God’s Animals. Dt. 22:6-7.

Be a good steward over the environment that God created3

4. Your Duty to Protect Others From Danger. Dt. 22:8.

5. Your Duty to Separate from the World - “Sanctification” Dt. 22:9-12.

Be set apart from the world to serve God

6. Your Duty to Stay Focused on God. Dt. 22:9-12.

A woman grabs Jesus’ tassels in faith4

7. Your Duty to Abstain from Sexual Immorality. Dt. 22:13-30.